DATA SCIENCEPhD Dissertation Proposal DefenseRuofan Hu Time: Sep 15, 2025, from 9:00- 10:00 amLocation: Gordon Library Conference Room 303PhD Committee:Prof. Elke A. Rundensteiner, Data Science, WPI. Advisor.Prof. Randy Paffenroth, Mathematical Sciences, WPI.Prof. Fabricio Murai, Data Science, WPI.Prof. Feifan Liu, Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School. External member. Title: Learning from Weak SupervisionAbstract: Deep learning models often rely on high-quality labeled data, yet such resources are scarce and costly in domains like public health and healthcare. This dissertation addresses the problem of learning from weak supervision, where labels are noisy, incomplete, or coarse. This dissertation focuses on two major regimes: noisy supervision, which involves developing strategies to learn effectively from mixed- and unknown-quality labels, and indirect supervision, which entails designing methods that leverage coarse-grained signals to guide fine-grained tasks, such as rationale extraction and clinical notes summarization. Across four tasks, novel approaches are proposed to reduce dependence on expert annotations, mitigate label noise and imbalance, and exploit existing high-level signals. This work contributes to the development of robust, scalable models that enhance clinical decision support and medical text understanding.

Ludwig Boltzmann was unsatisfied with fluid theory (Navier-Stokes Eq., etc.) as it lacked a microscopic theory that could explain the irreversibility at the core of thermodynamics. He committed himself to show how the disbelieved notion of atoms could unravel fluid dynamics into a stochastic particle theory. This talk is about my research program to similarly find a microscopic and ballistic theory of “particles” that generates quantum mechanics, while staying within the guard rails of Einstein’s notion of “realism”. We will visit several less traveled areas of quantum theory and mathematics while following a path to this goal and end with a demonstration of a computational demonstration.David Cyganski Professor Emeritus, Electrical and Computer Engineering, RBE - WPIAll Faculty and students are welcome and encouraged to join us! Physics Department Room 218

Life Sciences Seminar Series "Investigating the post-transcriptional role of regulatory small RNAs in mycobacterial stress responses" Opeyemi Isaac Ibitoye, BBT PhD Candidate, Advisor: Associate Professor Scarlet Shell"Identification of Functional Targets Reveals Novel GLD-2 Functions in the C. elegans Proximal Germline" Danni Li, BBT PhD Student, Advisor: Karl-Frédéric Vieux Tuesday September 16th 2025 @ 12:00 PM 60 Prescott St. Gateway Park 1st floor GP1002

Live Stats

Department of Mathematical SciencesDiscrete Math SeminarTuesday, September 16th, 20254:00PM-4:50PMOlin Hall 126Speaker: Jane Coons, WPITitle: Quasi-Independence Models with Rational Maximum Likelihood Estimator Abstract: Let X and Y be random variables. Quasi-independence models are log-linear models that describe a situation in which some states of X and Y cannot occur together, but X and Y are otherwise independent. We characterize which quasi-independence models have rational maximum likelihood estimator, or MLE, based on combinatorial features of the bipartite graph associated to the model. In this case, we give an explicit formula for the maximum likelihood estimate. We also give a substantial introduction to algebraic statistics, which will be accessible to advanced undergraduate students.

Come to this virtual drop-in session to ask ITS staff your questions on how to best manage your Microsoft 365 Storage.Here is the Zoom link: https://wpi.zoom.us/j/96953356331 If you have any difficulty logging in, please call the Service Desk at 508-831-5888. Microsoft 365 Storage Resources:These resources will help you get started on managing your Outlook and OneDrive storage.Storage Management FAQsExploring OutlookThe Inbox Cleanup Journey of an Email Hoarder by Mike HamiltonExploring OneDriveOneDrive Cleanup Companion by Mike Hamilton